Index

Two Deck Wash Pumps for Panache - Portable & Fixed Mount.
INDEX - Portable Pump, Parts / Fixed Mount Pump, Parts.

THE MAGIC of RAIN WATER or DEW - It is incredible how well rain water can clean a deck.  Not many people wander around in the rain so they don't see this but next time, go on deck after a heavy down pour to see how clean it is.  That pristine deck surface demonstrates the cleaning power of rainwater.  Morning dew has a similar property and again most people don't see this, usually getting out of bed after it evaporates.  I'm not about to suggest you stand out in the rain with a deck brush, but if you get up a little earlier, you can brush the deck with the morning dew.  Either of these should be your first go to for cleaning the deck; that is if the boat is close by or you stayed on board.  I know of only one guy who lived on his SJ23.  A past sailing buddy used to preach this philosophy to me all the time.  His deck was bone dry by the time anyone even thought about waking up.  He drove me nuts with this but had the cleanest boat in the club and he made good coffee in the morning!  There is actually a dust particle inside each rain drop that needs to be cleaned.  Didn't know that did you? 
 

PORTABLE DECK WASH PUMP (2019) - For years I used a bucket of lake water and a brush to wash Panache's deck.  A bucket is OK but frankly the swoosh doesn't wash debris away very well, especially along the cockpit toe rail where a steady stream of water can easily float debris overboard.   It is easier to remove grunge from a tight space with flowing water.  A deck wash pump makes it quick and easy to clean a spill or remove foot prints from dirty shore based shoes.  It can also be used to remove water from a dinghy or an adjacent boat.  And lastly it is a great way to wash an anchor lifted from a muddy bottom. 

To this end I built a portable pump.  What decadence to have endless water to wash the deck, fill my solar water heater or the flush tank of the portable head.  For an emergency a portable pump could backup an existing bilge pump by removing water from a cavity not serviced by a bilge pump.  eg: cabin sole or under the forward berth.  You get the idea, but lets not overrate this little pump.

I expect this pump will be used near the cockpit most of the time, in which case it will be hung over the side with the line slipped over a primary winch.  For cleaning the cabin top or foredeck it will likely be hung from the centrally mounted spring cleat.

- The 12V centrifugal pump is mounted at the bottom end of a 4' length of ABS pipe and hung over the side slung from a winch.  (In this fabrication I joined a 4' long 1.5" ABS pipe to an 8" long 2" pipe to use garage stock but a single 4' long 2" ABS pipe is probably simpler).  Using ABS pipe is perfect to keep the pump submerged and to protect it when stored in the cockpit locker.  I chose a pump that is identical to those installed in the settee bilges; serving as a spare that is known to work.  (See Tech Tip E16). 

- The electrical wires, vinyl hose and gunwale tie down line all exit at the top of the ABS pipe.  It takes a bit of clever thinking to fish the wires and vinyl tube down ABS and secure the pump inside, near the bottom, all the while keeping the vinyl tube attached to the pump.  I'll let you figure out that part but note the white tie wraps holding the pump inside the 2" section.  In reality it's too wordy to describe, but not that difficult to do.  You should also secure the wire, vinyl tube and tie down line at the top of the ABS pipe so you don't accidentally pull them off the pump.  The electrical plug draws power from the 12V jack on the breaker panel and the switch is located along the cord where it hangs just in the cockpit.  Its convenient to operate here and doesn't get beat up due to the cleaning task at hand. 
- A centrifugal pump can move more water in the forward direction than in the reverse direction.  The DC motor can turn in either direction and the positive lead is usually labelled.  If the power is applied to the motor so the pump operates in the forward direction you will see the stream going furthest out the nozzle.  This is the correct polarity to operate the pump, regardless of the lead labelling.  I found one pump to be labelled backwards!

This pump has a lift capacity of ~10' so it has sufficient force to do reasonable work.  Just don't ask it to push a bunch of stuck debris.  The end of the tube might get a nozzle to create a more forceful stream but the biggest advantage is a steady flow of water. 

This pump is stored in the cockpit port locker with the wires and hose secured to the tube using a Velcro strap.  Later I may house it in a nylon bag.  Another thru hull installation adverted.

The first time I used the pump to clean the cockpit I was surprised with how well it worked.  Moving water is everything after all.  In half an hour I washed all the loose debris from the toe rails, under the mainsheet traveller, cockpit seat lids and the cockpit sole.  The winter debris has a nasty habit of sticking around for the summer.

Parts

• 4' of 2" ABS pipe.

• 1 Self priming bilge pump; CK-181DC, rated at 200 gal/hr, 1/37 HP, 12V, carbon brush motor, impeller is polypropylene.  Tested to empty a 23L bucket in 1 min. & measured head of ~10'.  See Tech Tip E16 for photo of pump installed.

• 15' of 1/2" vinyl tube.

• 15' of lamp cord.

• 1 12V accessory plug.

• 1 lamp cord switch.   TOP
   

FIXED MOUNT DECK WASH PUMP (2022) - There were times when it was difficult to clean Panache's deck, given the fine dust that blew off the farm fields in Spring and Fall.  Thankfully the open pit coal mines next to our lake are now closed.  While the combination of dirt and coal dust baked hard on the deck, some sailors around here managed to keep their boat spotless.  I'm not sure where they found the time, because frankly I have other things to do.  One day I noticed one of them pointing his hose to his deck.  "Hmmm.  A powerful deck wash pump that can push lots of water for heavy duty cleaning."  Now I wouldn't install a thru hull fitting just to have a deck wash pump because another hole through the hull is just plain dumb.  But, Panache had an idle thru-hull fitting that could be repurposed.  Come to think of it, this might come in handy to fend off marauding "pirates" on the lake.

MECHANICAL - It took a fair amount of head scratching to design a system within the tight constraints of Panache's settee bilge.  The thru-hull is ~6" below the water line but below the galley.  I wanted the hardware to be out of sight and convenient to service but it quickly became obvious the pump and its electrical controls had to be installed on a small sub-board.  This could lay loose on the shelf so it could align to the hoses or be removed for maintenance.  The epoxy coated shelf would keep the pump and electronics high and dry for most "wet" situations.

PLUMBING - The new displacement pump is level with the thru-hull which makes it self priming to protect the rubber impeller from a dry start.  The 12" long inlet hose goes straight to the pump for minimal flow restriction.  DO NOT use vinyl reinforced tubing as it eventually kinks due to the tight turns.  Instead, use heavy duty garden hose installed in constant radius turns.  The outlet hose goes from the pump through the aft settee bulkhead.  Then it along the inside wall of the cockpit locker and terminates on an RV "exterior spray port" installed through the aft cockpit wall.  There is ample space for it back there.  The spray port is robust so no fear of weakening the cockpit wall.
- Any spilled water from the spray port will flow down the cockpit drains.  I expect this to be minimal.  The spring loaded check valve in the spray port is closed until a hose is plugged in.  However, I'm not relying on it to seal the cockpit since the spray port is installed above the water line.  The last thing I need is a leaking valve to fill the hull; hence the practice of closing the thru-hull between uses. 
- A 50' expanding garden hose locks to the quick connect fitting of the spray port.  The hose is self draining with the nozzle open, kink & tangle resistant and the outside fabric is easy on the gel coat as you move around.  All useful features for an SJ23.
You might think a 25' hose is long enough.  Problem is, there is not enough pressure to extend it.

ELECTRICAL - A 12V pump that almost produces household water pressure draws a lot of current.  The one on Panache draws ~10A and will therefore pull power through a dedicated 15A breaker, BKR 6.  The battery return wire connects to Buss Bar 4 (BB4) so the start up surge current cannot burn the shunt in the Load Meter M2.  The pump also has a 2A Transient Suppression Diode wired across the motor to short out any damaging voltage spikes when the power is shut off.  The stranded #10 AWG wires have enough slack to extract the pump to the top of the settee for service.  The pump power is controlled by a Wireless Remote Controlled Relay Receiver to both conserve battery power and to minimize wear on the impeller when water is not required.  A rubber impeller must always be lubricated and cooled with flowing water.  The Wireless Relay in turn drives an automotive relay (rated to 50A) to handle motor current.  I hang the FOB around my neck so I don't loose it overboard.  A manual power switch may be installed next to the pump for maintenance but this has so far not been required.  The plan is to use the pump when the sun is shining so it can recharge the battery quickly and dry the deck after washing.  In fact the short term, high charge, current may be beneficial, effectively acting like a pseudo equalize charge to the battery.  In truth, the power consumption has proven no worse than starting the outboard and has not dropped the battery voltage during my trial tests.

OPERATION - The thru-hull valve is kept closed between uses, for the obvious safety reason.  Open the thru-hull valve and check the pump to verify it is not leaking.  Switch on (BKR 6).  Plug the expandable hose into the spray port.  Point & open the nozzle.  Switch the pump on via the Wireless Remote Controlled Relay Receiver (configured for latching operation).  Wash the deck.  When finished washing, switch the pump off, drain the hose and pack it away, switch off BKR 6 and close the thru-hull valve.  I run the motor to control the spray, not the nozzle, so the remote control can get a fair amount of use. 

WINTER STORAGE - It is OK for the heavy duty hoses to have some water in them during winter freeze.  However, the pump must be bone dry.  With the boat on the trailer I open the thru hull valve, plug the hose adapter into the spray port, crack open the hose fittings at the pump, and let the water drain into the settee bilge.  Its easy to wipe up this small amount of water.  With Panache's galley installed over the aft access hole, I empty the galley to access the pump and plumbing through the hole in the bottom of the galley.  This is an inconvenience I can handle.

Parts

• An (10 x 18)" plywood shelf under the settee to mount the pump on.  It is saturated with epoxy to protect against water.

• 3/4" heavy duty garden hose e/w adapters to plumb from the thru-hull, to the pump & ends at the spray port.

• A 12V mini utility pump e/w garden hose fittings, 230 gal/hr.  Mounted on a sub board.

• A Bosch 12V 50A relay with socket to power pump.

• A wireless control switch to switch pump relay remotely.

• 2A fast switching diode to short out transient voltage spikes. 

• RV exterior spray port hook-up e/w quick connect coupler.

• A 15' coil hose e/w a quick connect coupler and spray nozzle.  (Useful only in the cockpit).

• A 25' expandable garden hose e/w spray nozzle.    (Useful to the foredeck).

• Electrical wiring (#10 AWG) to power pump.
   

Return to Tech Tip Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Have a Question?